1. N A T I O N A L I M M I G R A T I O N L A W C E N T E R | W W W . N I L C . O R G
LOS ANGELES (Headquarters)
3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2850
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213 639-3900
213 639-3911 fax
WASHINGTON, DC
1121 14th Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
202 216-0261
202 216-0266 fax
Immigration Raids Alert
PREPARE FOR RAIDS AND PROTECT YOURSELF!
JANUARY 2016
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
has begun arresting and detaining Central
Americans who are fleeing violence in their home
countries and who were ordered deported after
January 1, 2014. NILC and other groups strongly
oppose this policy and will continue to demand that
it be stopped. According to news reports,
immigration agents are going to people’s homes to
pick them up. It is important to prepare yourself
and others for these raids.
The resources listed here will help you prepare
for and respond to immigration raids. This alert also
describes special protections for detained
Salvadorans. Please circulate this information so
that our communities can defend themselves.
Report when a raid is happening!
• Call United We Dream’s hotline to report a raid:
1-844-363-1423.
• Send text messages to 877877.
• If it’s possible, take photos and videos, and also
take notes on what happened during the raid.
Protections for detained Salvadorans
• Detained Salvadorans may be entitled to special
protections under the “Orantes injunction.” This
nationwide, permanent court order provides
specific rights to nationals of El Salvador who are
in immigration detention. More information
about the Orantes injunction is available at
www.nilc.org/orantesinjunction.html.
• The Orantes injunction says that the immigration
court proceedings for Salvadorans must take place
in the same district in which they were detained,
even if they were later transferred to another
location.
• It is a violation of the injunction for a Salvadoran
to be deported who does not have a final order of
removal because he or she is requesting either
another credible fear interview or review by an
immigration judge of a negative credible fear
determination.
Know your rights!
• Read NILC’s tips in English or Spanish on how to
prepare for a raid.
• Read resources and booklets in English and
Spanish by the American Friends Service
Committee and Casa de Maryland.
• Study United We Dream’s infographics in English
and Spanish.
Find a person in detention
• Use ICE’s online detainee locator to find an adult
who is in immigration custody.
• If you can’t find a person using the online locator,
call the local ICE office.
Find legal help
• The immigration courts have a list of lawyers and
organizations that provide free legal services:
www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-
providers-map. Nonprofit organizations that
provide low-cost help can be found at
www.immigrationlawhelp.org.
Stay updated
• Organizations that work closely with Central
American communities and unaccompanied
children include Alianza America, KIND (Kids In
Need of Defense), Women’s Refugee Commission,
and AILA (American Immigration Lawyers
Association). Visit their websites and follow them
on Twitter to get more information.
• Follow @unitedwedream, , @NILC_org,
@Not1_More, #Not1More, and #Ni1Mas on
Twitter for updates on the raids.
